An old sister arrives

Mary was the first to awaken yet again, being in the dining table with a glass of wine pressed to her lips. She was writing down in her diary her thoughts of what is to come and what has passed. The emptiness of the castle, within and out, cleared her head. It was a sound she welcomed dearly, a noise she grew fond of and quite familar with as her younger days of being a slave. The sound of silence.

It has been another day to sleep through, and time draws closer to our inevitable festival. The feeling is quite unnerving, to have spent months ahead in preparation but now that it is close, I fear we may not be ready. It is natural to have doubts this soon, to feel uneasy that perhaps I overlooked something of importance in my haste. Nevertheless, having a new sister in our family is always welcomed. A larger family means more strength, and since the Purge of four decades past we have been dwindling in small numbers. There was even a time I felt we had perhaps reached our end.

And yet, we go on.

It troubles me, the thought that we vampires aren't so special in the world. So many abilities, so much strength but still we face the same challenge every other life struggles to achieve. Now here I am, a member of an endangered kind hoping that I can manage the strength to keep ourselves strong and able. My daughters, they look up to me for answers, for leadership and hope. I've given them many promises, and I intend to keep them. My word is true, we are the stronger of the monsters, the ageless, the immortal. What we carry within is a gift, one that would turn the world livid and full of envy. They would rather kill us all then to allow another race to overpass them. It sickens me to think such creatures could do my family harm.

With such troubling thoughts in mind, I often wonder what would Elizabeth do in these times? I miss her dearly, her guide and wise words, her experience and virtue. But the Bloody Barren has passed long ago now, her strenght and title passed down to me.

And mark my words, we will rise again. No matter the costs.

Knock-knock-knock!

Mary put her diary aside and stood up, a breathe of relief flowing through her. Finally, she was beginning to worry something had happened to her. Calmly making her way to the front doors, she undid the hatch and parted the wooden entry. Her daughter smiled back at her, with bright red eyes and golden hair.

"Welcome home, Evina."

"Mother, I missed you dearly so."

The two vampiresses embraced each other in a loving hug, caught up with emotions of an unbreakable bond formed across several decades now between a mother and foster daughter. What shocked Mary was the belly Evina carried with her, parting their hug for a brief moment.

"Evina! What is this?"

Evina chuckled nervously before stroking her belly, rubbing its soft curves and smiling to it before meeting her gaze with her mother.

"I intended this to be a surprise Mother, I am six months now. I hope you are not angry?"

"Good heavens, how could I be? My daughter is having a family all of her own!"

Mary began to tear up, holding her daughter once more as she weeped silently. Evina smiled and held her back, opting to be quiet but affectionate. Only once before has she ever seen Mary cry, and it surprised her still to see such an emotion from her.

"Mother? Are you alright?"

"I am dear, I am. I just..." Mary stuttered, wiping her face before inhaling deeply. "Nevermind that. Who is the father?"

"Well, i..." She paused as another entered the dining room, wearing her bathrobe. Both stood still and locked eyes.

"Evina?"

She smiled wide. "Alice! By the gods, you look so beautiful sister, how have you been? Please tell me you've kept Mother safe?"

"Safe and secure of course, it has been years! And my lord, you're pregnant!" Alice remarked, touching Evina's tummy.

Evina giggled as her sister felt her motherly belly. "Yes, in three months I will be a mother now."

Mary beamed and hugged her two daughters. "Come Evina! We have a new daughter among us, you must meet her."

"Oh? Another sister, I do hope she is more fond of me than the last one."

"Iseabail will come around sister, don't worry about her. It was a thing in the past, and we're a family," Alice said, "If not I will convince her to. Bug she will come around."

Evina nodded. "A new sister... well, let me see her."

"Of course, this way."